Anti-transgender 'bathroom initiative' is back seeking signatures

Calling themselves the "Just Want Privacy" campaign, opponents of a state rule on transgender use of bathrooms and locker rooms have refiled an initiative that failed to make Washington's 2016 ballot.

The initiative would repeal a State Human Rights Commission policy that allows transgender persons to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. The 2015 rule was issued under a decade-old state anti-discrimination law.

Efforts to enact "bathroom bans," the latest in Texas, have won support from the religious right but strong opposition from corporate leaders. Enactment of Bill 2 in North Carolina has already cost the Tar Heel State an estimated $600 million in lost business expansion, athletic and entertainment events.

The opponents of LGBTQ and transgender rights have had it rough in the Evergreen State, a place that has long put primacy on privacy.

They lost in 2009 when Washington voted in favor of civil unions for same-sex couples. The legislature voted for marriage equality in 2012. Opponents put the measure onto the November ballot, only to see Washington join Maryland and Maine in voting for same-sex marriage.

A "bathroom bill" in the Legislature last year was touted by such conservatives as State Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg.

"It looks like the new 'let men in women's bathroom' rule DOES apply to schools. Nice job, Dems. Repeal the rule now or we'll see you in November," Manweller tweeted.

But the Republican-run State Senate turned down the bathroom bill on a 25-24 vote. Three Eastside Republican senators broke ranks to provide key votes in defeating it. The "Just Want Privacy" campaign then fell short of signatures required for a place on the ballot."

"Just Want Privacy" is a creation of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, whose president Joseph Backholm said in a statement that last year's effort was "restrained by time."

"We will have six months instead of ten weeks," Backholm added. "We know that public opinion still strongly opposes open private spaces."

With refiling of the initiative on Monday, Kris Hermanns of Pride Foundation said: "Washington is a state defined by values of inclusiveness and fairness, and these values will always prevail because they are on the right side of history.

"Using fear and lies, this initiative will allow legally sanctioned harassment and interrogation specifically targeting transgender Washingtonians. Our community has come together time and again to fight for the advances we've made up to now -- and we won't stop fighting until we preserve the legal equality we all deserve."

The foes of the "bathroom initiative" last year included Amazon, Microsoft, Group Health, Google, Facebook, Expedia, Vulcan, At&T, the Washington Education Association and Washington State Labor Council.

North Carolina Republicans and Democrats blamed each other, after the lawmakers failed to repeal a state law that restricts some LGBT protections. It requires Transgender people to use public restrooms matching their birth certificate gender.

Media: associatedpress

Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014.

Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014.

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX, SEATTLEPI.COM

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014.

Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014.

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX, SEATTLEPI.COM

Anti-transgender 'bathroom initiative' is back seeking signatures

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Columnist Joel Connelly has written about politics for the P-I since 1973.